Moves to expand salmon farming in Storm Bay have moved one step closer, with a review panel recommending that Petuna’s proposal be approved. The salmon farmer has put forward a plan for a new lease to be located in central north Storm Bay, about 5 kilometres southeast of Betsey Island. Petuna still needs to apply for an environmental licence from the Environment Protection Authority. It will also need to obtain a Marine Farming Lease and Marine Farming Licence. Last October, Tassal and Huon Aquaculture were granted approval by the Marine Farming Planning Review Panel for their Storm Bay Proposals. Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said the Government, “supports responsible and sustainable growth in the salmon industry, providing thousands of jobs, many of which are in regional areas.”

An agreement, which is designed to strengthen aquaculture in Tasmania and regional Canada, has been signed. It encourages sector growth through a shared knowledge between both regions. The Memorandum of Understanding was inked by Tasmanian Primary Industries Minister, Guy Barnett, and Nova Scotia’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Keith Colwell, who led a visiting delegation to the state. It fosters an information exchange around fisheries and aquaculture development between Tasmania and Nova Scotia. It's another important boost for one of the state’s most important industries according to Minister Barnett: “The Tasmanian Government is looking forward to working cooperatively with the Nova Scotian Government, as we both continue to develop and improve best practice fishing. Tasmania’s $947 million per annum seafood sector is synonymous with our premium food brand, and we are always looking at ways to value add.”

An innovative Tasmanian plan to rid the ocean of a devastating pest is also helping to establish a new export industry. Divers are being paid to collect sea urchins, which are then sent to a processing factory for a roe-based export industry. Already the incentive program, initiated by the Tasmanian Abalone Council [TACL], has resulted in more than a million of these marine pests being harvested. Sea urchins have devastated kelp beds on the East Coast and are one of the major contributors to lost productivity of abalone reefs. The TACL said it was part of a multi-faceted effort by industry, government and scientists to slow down the spread of the Centrostephanus sea urchin as water temperatures rise. TACL chief executive, Dean Lisson, told The Advocate: "The aim of the program is to reduce degradation of productive abalone habitat while assisting the start-up of the Centrostephanus sea urchin export industry.”

Artificial reefs could help preserve Tasmania’s famous giant kelp forests, with scientists hoping the reefs may shed light on why seaweed ecosystems are being degraded around the world. Researchers from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in Hobart built an array of artificial reefs off Tasmania’s East Coast where kelp forests have been impacted by climate change and invasive sea urchins. They want to test how adult kelp, at different densities and sizes, modify their physical environment and influence juveniles. Lead researcher, Dr Cayne Layton, said: “Increasingly kelp are being threatened by stressors such as ocean warming, urbanisation and pollution … We built a series of artificial reefs and transplanted kelp at different densities and patch sizes, recording how the environment within these patches differed and how that influenced the juvenile kelp.”

The federal Environment Department has given the green light to Tassal’s expansion plans in Storm Bay, south of Hobart. Tassal is proposing to add four, 45-hectare salmon leases, near Wedge Island. It has been decided that Tassal does not require approval under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. However, a Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokeswoman told The Mercury: “Marine farming lease areas and authorisations to conduct marine farming operations, in the form of marine farming licences and environmental licences, must be in effect before Tassal can commence marine farming operations within the newly established marine farming zone.” The Tasmanian Government ticked off on the plans late last year on the recommendation of the Marine Farming Review Panel. Tassal will now work through the state’s environmental licence process to progress its planned Storm Bay expansion.

Hobart-based Echoview has won a gong at the prestigious Australian Export Awards. The software company took out the award for Digital Technologies at the 56th annual event held in Canberra last month. Echoview specialises in hydro-acoustic data that assesses fish populations for stock assessment and sustainability studies. It has customers in more than 65 countries and 95 per cent of its business comes from export sales. As he praised Echoview, Premier Will Hodgman pointed out: “The latest international merchandise exports figures confirm global demand for Tasmanian products continues to surge, with the annual export growth rate reaching 26 per cent, three times the national rate. The Tasmanian Government is committed to expanding and developing international markets for Tasmanian businesses to export their world-class goods and services globally.”

When they set up their salmon business as a side hobby, Frances and Peter Bender – the founders of Huon Aquaculture – could never have imagined they would create history by becoming the first fish farmers to be named Australian Farmer of the Year.

A boost for Tasmania’s world-class shellfish sector. The State Government is partnering with the shellfish and oyster industry to enhance the state’s reputation for quality seafood. This year’s State Budget delivered $400,000, over four years, to establish the Tasmanian Shellfish Market Access program (ShellMAP). Minister for Primary Industries, Sarah Courtney, says the signing of the ShellMAP agreement with Oysters Tasmania and the Tasmanian Seafood Council demonstrates how the Government is working to improve the capacity of the oyster industry to manage market access, food safety and Tasmania’s reputation for quality seafood. The new ShellMAP management committee will be led by Ian Cartwright, a marine resource management specialist with more than 30 years’ experience. He is also currently a Commissioner for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

Join us

Become an eFriend

Join our eFriends mailing list and once a month we will keep you up-to-date with the news that’s flowing in our state. You could win a prize in our monthly competition. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Email

I would like to receive Brand Tasmania’s eFriends email newsletter. Privacy policy.